Water heating and circulating apparatus.



No. 676,093. Patented lune Il', |901.

J. DE c LAFRENIRE. WATEH HEATING AND CIRCULATING APPARATUS.

(Appucaion med sape. 15, 1900.)

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No. 676,093. Patented lune Il, |90I.

, .1. DE c. LAFnEmnE.

VWATER HEATING AND CIRCULATINGAPPARATUS.

(Appliation filed Sept. 15, 1900.) (No Model.) 4

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

MT ESSESI WMQLVGM www PATENT OFFICE.

` JOSEPH DE O. LAFRENIRE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PEROIVAT W. ELLIOTT, OF SAME PLACE.

WATER HEATING AND CIRCULATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFCATTON forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,093, dated J' une 11, 1901.

Application iiled September 15,1900. Serial No. 30,107. (No model.)

art to which it appertains or with which it isl most nearly connected to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to steam-generating and hot-water heating means generally, and particularly heaters for systems designed for warming dwellings, office buildings, and the like. y

It is the chief object of the invention to provide such improvements in steam-generators and hot-water heaters as will secure the utilization or taking up of the maximum units or amount of heat from a furnace or fire-pot with the smallest amount of Water that it is practicable to employ, thus accomplishing great economy in the consumption of fuel in the attainment of a given hot-water heating result. This object I attain bythe employment ot' a tier of tubes in communication at opposite sides by means of short pipes or nipples, which depend from the lower sides of the tubes and extend through the tops of subjacent tubes, projecting downwardly to a considerable extent within the interiors thereof, so that the amount of water in the tubes is reduced to the minimum by the trapping of air and steam in Athe upper parts of the tubes, which results in securing greatlyincreased efficiency in transmission of heat` out to the heating system, the steam or hot- ,water outlet bein'g, however, preferably from .the lower part of the superstructure, though vit may be directly from the uppermost tube of the tier.

The drawings which accompany and form part of this specification illustrate a preferred form of embodiment of the invention, and of said drawings- Figures l and 2 represent the complete structure in cross-section, one view being taken at right angles to the other. Figs. 3, 4t, and 5 represent the members of thesuperstructure in horizontal section. Fig. 6 represents one of the annular tubes of the water fire-box in perspective.

The reference-numeral 2 designates the annular tubes, which are superposed in a tier to form the water fire-box above the grate 3, the said tubes being oblong in cross-section and dished downwardly, so as to expose their water-holding portions to the direct heat of the fire and also present slanting surfaces to prevent accumulation of deposits. These tubes at diametrically opposite points are formed with bosses 4 5 on top and bottom, the tubes being recessed in the top sides, as at 6, to receive the bosses 5 on the bottom of the tube next above, as shown in Fig. 2. Each tube is also formed with a circular groove 7 in its top near the outer side and with a correspondingly-located circular rib S on its bottom, the rib of one tube seating in the groove ofthe subjacent tube,l as shown in Fig. 1. The bosses 5 of all the tubes except the lowermost one receive the upper ends of short pipes or nipples 9, which extend through the bosses -t of the tubes below and depend within the latter to the lower parts thereof. These nipples constitute the only means of communication between the tubes, and it will be seen that by having them depend in this manner within the tubes only the lower portions of the latter will contain water,`air and steam being trapped in their upper portions. EX- tensive heat-radiating surfaces are thus provided for relatively small bodies of water. The water fiows down through the nipples at one side and circulates around through the tubes to the opposite side and thence up through the nipples at the latter side.

By reason of the relatively small amount of water used in the tubes 2 and the great radiating area of the said tubes the water The chief advantage of the invention is' therefore that it 'enables the employment of aV relatively small quantity of water in connection with a comparatively great area of heatradiating surface and that steam generated `or water heated for circulation through a heating system is not required, as is fre?` quentlythe case, -to rise through a large body of relatively cool water. Hence the maximum amount of units of heat is utilized from the furnace in heating water and generating steam. Y l y The 'superstructure for heati'ng'the return! water from the system comprises a tier of hollow disks, the lower one, 10, ofvw'hich is formed with' bosses '11 at opposite sides, occupying the recesses 6 in the uppermost tube 2 and receiving nipples 12, which extend through the bosses 4 of said tube and dependwithin the latter. This disk 10 has a-boss 13 on its top at one side receiving the lower endv of a pipe 14, which opens into the upper partI of the disk above the nipple 12 and constitutesY the" outtake conduit for the hot Water. 3'5- A partition 15 is provided within the disk 10 in the form of a web extending from near the front to near the rear, lateral wings 16 being provided for strengthening purposes. This such vcommiugling of the return-Water enterter-ing the disk with the heated water liowing therefrom to the pipe 14 as might otherwise be calculated to disturb the circulation. At the same time any water attaining the degree of heat of the upward-moving column is free to join the latter in the disk.

Two' hollow disks 17 and 1S are shown surmounting the disk 10, each being of practically 'the same formation interiorly and exteriorly. In each there is formed a partition or deflector 19, springing from one side and extending obliquely toward the center and thence'diametrically across the latter, terminating short of the opposite side of the disk, as' clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Wings 20 extend from the front and back of this diametrical portion of the partition, the

front wing being somewhat longer than the rear one. Alining sleeves 21 are formed in these upper disks, and the pipe 14 extends through said sleeves to join the piping of the heating system. At the opposite side the middle disk 17 is formed with a boss 22 on the bottom, coming directly over a boss 23 on the' disk 10, and a short pipe-section or nipple 24 tits in said bosses and provides communication for return water between the two disks, said nipple opening into the middle disk in rear of its partition `or deliector 19, so'that the return-water must reach saidnipple behind said partition. A boss l25 is formed on top of said disk 17 to receive a nipple 26 forward of saidV partition 19, and

the top disk 18 has `a corresponding boss 27 on its` bottom "to receive said nipple, which provides communication between the disks 17 and 18 for the return-water. f It vwill be seen that the latter enters the disk 17 in front 0f the partition and must travel entirely around the interior of the disk t0 reach the nipple 24, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4, wherein the nipple 25 is indicated by dotted lines.

The reference-'numeral 28 designates the return-pipe from the heating system, which `pipe enters the top of the disk 18 in rear of the partition 19, so that the water must-flow Ventirely around the interior of the disk before it finds an outlet'at thenipple 26. The bottoms of the disks are concave andthe disks are sufficiently separated to provide heating-chambers 29, through which products of combustion pass to the chimney. Thel lower disk 10 has a smoke-flue 30 at the rear,

-leadiug from the fire-box chamber to the chamber between this disk andthe disk 17,

l and the. latter has a'srnoke-ue 31 at the front .leading from said chamber to the chamber between the disks 17 and 18,' and the latter has a smoke-flue 32 at the rear leading to the chimney-Hue 33.' 'It will be seen 'that' by this arrangement the three disks are'thoroughly Isubjected to the heat of the products of combustion passing upward from the nre-box and that the' return water will be effectively heated before reaching the tubes.

partition serves the purpose of preventing The disks 17 and 18 are supported at one lside by the connecting nipples and bosses and at the opposite side by legs V34, formed upon the bottoms of these disks and resting on the disks below. The heating-chambers 29 are closed at the sides by ianged bands 35, 'having clean-out openings with doors, as shown at 3G in Fig. 1'.

The uppermost'annular tube 2 is formed at the front with an opening which, together with a recess in the bottom of the disk 10, provides a doorway 37 for feeding fuel to the furnace.

The lowermost annular tube rests upon a slightly-dished top plate 38 ot' the furnace, below which plate the grate is supported.

'The tubes and the disks are clamped together by means of lugs 39, formed upon them, and bolts and nuts engaging the lugs, and the lowermost 'tube is similarly clamped to the tire-pot or base of the furnace.

It Will be seen that the construction herein described is well calculated to thoroughly Afulfil the objects primarily stated.

IOO

IIO

Vention and. described a way of constructing and using the same, though without attempting to set forth all the forms in which it may be made or all the modes of its use, it is declared that what is claimed is-- 1. A steam or hot-water heater comprising in its construction a series of water-tubes arranged one above another, the subjacent tubes having one or more communicating passages or pipes, all of which extendfrom a level intermediate of the top and bottom of the tube, up through the top of the tube and into the bottom of the next higher tube, whereby air or steam in the tubes is trapped in the upper portion of the tube so asI to eX- clude the water from said upper port-ion, substantially as described.

2. A steam or hot-waterheater comprising in its construction a series of annular tubes arranged one above another, each tube beingf 3. A steam or hot-water heater comprising in'its construction a series of water-tubes arranged one above another and having communication with each other, the only communication between the adjacent tubesbein g secured through conduits which lead from a point intermediate of the top and bottom of one tube to the lower part of the next higher tube, substantially as set forth.

4. In a heater of the character described, the combination with the water fire-box composed of a tier of annular tubes in communication at opposite sides through short pipes or nipples depending from the bottoni of one tube through the top of the next lower tube and into the interior thereof; of a return-water-heating structure surmounting said firebox and comprising a number of superposed communicating hollow disks with passageways between them for products of combustion, the lower one of which disks communicates at opposite sides with the top part of the water re-box; an outtake-pipe leading from said lower disk; and a return-water pipe opening into the uppermost'hollow disk.

5. In a heater of the character described,

the combination with the water tire-box composed of a tier of annulartubes in communication at opposite sides through short pipes or nipples depending from the bottom of one tube through the top of the next lower tube and into the interior thereof; of a return-water-heating structure surmounting said firebox and comprising a number of superposed hollow disks with passage-ways between them for products of combustion, the lowermost one of which disks communicates at opposite erse their interiors; an outtake-pipe leading from the lowermost disk at one side thereof; and a return-water pipe entering the uppermost disk.

6. In a` heater of the character described,

`the combination with the water lire-box composed ofla tier of annular tubes in communication at opposite sides through short pipes.

or nipples depending from the bottom of one tube through the top of the next lower tube and into the interior thereof; of a return-water-heating structure surmounting said rebox and comprising a number of superposed. communicating hollow disks with Apassage-` ways between them for products Aofcombustion, the lower one of which disks communieates at opposite sides with the top part of the water tire-box; an outtake-pipe leadingfrom said lower disk and extending up through the disks thereabove; and a return-water pipe opening into the uppermost hollowdisk.

'7. In a heaterot the character described, the combination with the water fire-box composed of a tier of annular tubes in communication at opposite sides through short pipes or nipples depending from the bottom of one tube through the top of the next lower tube and into the interior thereof; of a return-water-heating structure surmounting said tire- IOO box and comprising a number of superposed communicating hollow disks with passageways between them for the products of combustion, the lower one of which disks communicates at opposite sides with the top part of the water fire-box and has a partition extending partially across its interior between said points of communication with the water firebox; an ou'ttake-pipe leading from said lower disk and a return-water pipe opening into the uppermost hollow disk.

8. In a heater of the character described,- the combination with the water fire-box composed of a tier of annular tubes in communication at opposite sides through short pipes or nipples depending from the bottom of one tube through the top of the next lower tube and into the interior thereof; of a superstructure for heating return-water, the same comprising one or more hollow disks, each with offset inlet and outlet ports and a partition or detlector between them to cause water entering the disk to travel around the same; a lower disk in communication with the outlet from the next disk above, and in communication at opposite sides with the top part of the water tire-box; an outtake-pipe leading from the said lower disk; and a return-water pipe leading into the uppermost disk. i

9. In avheater of the character described, the combination with a water fire-box composed of a tier of annular tubes in communication at opposite sides through short pipes tube through the top of the next lower tube tom of said disk through the top of said tube being kin communication with each other and the superstructure, the latter being in comor nipples depending from the bottom of one and into the interior thereof; of a superstructure for heating the return-water comprising a number of superposed hollow disks with passage-ways between them for products of combustionthe lowermost one of which is in communication at opposite sides with the uppermost annular vtube of the tire-box through short pipes or nipples depending from the bot-l and into the interior thereof; the upper disks munication with the lire-box. 11. A water-tube for heaters, the

same being of annular form oblong in cross-section and downwardly dished so as to present sloping surfaces and provide an inwardly andl downwardly projecting water-holding portion, substantially as described.

12. In a heater of the character described a Water-tube of annular form having nipples depending within it to the lower Ipart of its interior, said nipples being located at diametrically opposite points and communicating with a water-space above the tube, substantially as described. l Y

13. In a heater of the character described, a horizontal water-tube having a pipe or nipple extending through its top and depending Within its interior to a considerable extent, said pipe or nipple communicating with a water-space above and yconstituting the only means of communication between the tube and such Water-spaee.A

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specilication, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses, this 12th day ot September, A. D. 1900.l

JOSEPH DE o. LAFRENIRE. Witnesses: Y F. P. DAVIS, A. R. BROWN. 

